Article 72 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 72 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article requires every Saudi head of family, subject to Article 50, to go to civil status within three years of the Law coming into force to obtain the family record book issued from the central civil register.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة حكم المادة (50) من هذا النظام يجب على كل رب أسرة سعودي مراجعة إحدى دوائر الأحوال المدنية خلال ثلاث سنوات من تاريخ نفاذ هذا النظام للحصول على دفتر يتضمن البيانات الخاصة به وبأفراد أسرته يسمى: (دفتر العائلة)، ويستخرج من واقع قيود السجل المدني المركزي .
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 72 explained in plain English
This Article deals with the family record book, the book that contains the data of the head of family and the members of his family.
Who is addressed: every Saudi head of family.
The duty: to go to one of the civil status departments to obtain the family record book.
The period: three years from the date this Law comes into force; the period here is counted from the date the Law comes into force, not from a particular event.
The source: the book is issued from the entries of the central civil register.
Its relationship to Article 50: the Article begins with the phrase "Subject to the provision of Article (50)", the Article that requires the husband to go to one of the civil status departments within sixty days of the date of the marriage contract to obtain a family record book. The provision of Article 50 therefore remains in force alongside this provision.
It is followed by Article 73, which prohibits any citizen from having more than one entry in the central civil register, from holding more than one personal card or more than one family record book, or from using a card or family record book that is not his.
If you have a question about obtaining the family record book in your family situation, you may contact civil status or consult a lawyer who specializes in civil status and personal status cases.
Practical example
Youssef recently married in Riyadh. Under Article 50, which this Article takes into account, he must go to one of the civil status departments within sixty days of the date of the marriage contract to obtain the family record book, which is issued from the central civil register.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 72 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
What is the family record book?
A book containing the data of the Saudi head of family and the members of his family, issued from the entries of the central civil register.
When must the husband obtain the family record book?
Under Article 50, which this Article takes into account, within sixty days of the date of the marriage contract.
What is the three-year period mentioned in the Article?
It is the period within which a Saudi head of family must go to civil status to obtain the family record book, counted from the date the Law comes into force.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Family Record
- Article 42
The Article requires the births registrar to notify his department weekly with a statement of birth events and the certificate copies, and requires the department to record them within three days on the child's father's page.
يجب على كاتب سجل المواليد في نهاية كل أسبوع إشعار إدارة الأحوال المدنية التي يتبعها ببيان على النموذج المعد لذلك يتضمن جميع واقعات الولادة التي قيدها في سجله مع
- Article 43
The Article requires the birth certificate to be presented within 15 days of receiving it to one of the civil status departments, to check it, stamp it with the directorate's seal and add the newborn to the family record book.
يجب تقديم شهادة الميلاد الصادرة من كاتب سجل المواليد خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ تسلمها إلى إحدى إدارات الأحوال المدنية لمطابقة قيدها في السجل وختمها بخاتم المد
- Article 50
The Article allows either spouse to request the family register from civil status, and makes the husband responsible if it is not requested within sixty days of the marriage contract, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
لأي من الزوجين طلب الحصول على سجلّ الأسرة من إدارة الأحوال المدنية، وتقع المسؤولية على الزوج إذا لم يتقدم بطلب استخراجه خلال ستين يوماً من تاريخ عقد الزواج، وذل
- Article 58
The Article requires the death certificate, with the deceased's card and the family record book, to be presented to civil status within fifteen days of its issue, to be stamped, the card withdrawn and the book annotated.
يجب تقديم شهادة الوفاة الصادرة من كاتب سجل الوفيات مع بطاقة المتوفى الشخصية ودفتر العائلة الذي يضم اسمه إلى إحدى إدارات الأحوال المدنية وذلك خلال خمسة عشر يوما
- Article 73
The Article prohibits a citizen from having more than one entry in the central civil register, more than one personal card or family record book, or using a card or book that is not his.
لا يجوز أن يكون لأي مواطن غير قيد واحد في السجل المدني المركزي ، كما لا يجوز له حيازة أكثر من بطاقة شخصية واحدة، أو أكثر من دفتر عائلة واحد، أو استعمال بطاقة أو
- Article 74Amended (1426 AH)
The Article gives the family record book for an unlimited period, with a replacement book for heirs on its holder's death, refers the validity period of the personal card to the Regulations and requires renewal within 180 days before expiry.
1 - يعطى دفتر العائلة لمدة غير محددة، وإذا توفي صاحبه يسحب ويصرف بدلا منه دفتر عائلة آخر باسم المتوفى لكل من يرغب من ورثته المضافين فيه، على أن يؤثر مكان الصورة
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.